Yom Kippur Begins at Sunset on Sunday – Are You Ready?

Prayer – Lord, the Jew are celebrating the holiest day of the year—Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement—beginning at sunset on Sunday. I think that every day is a Day of Atonement for Christians. We need to continually keep an account and confess our sins. I admit to You, Lord, that I fall short—and that I struggle with loving others. Somehow it is easier to love You—and I know I should treat others if they are You, but my own ego—wanting to do things my way seems to get in the way. Please forgive me…and restore a right spirit within me. Thank You.

Day of Atonement begins at Sunset on Sunday.
Are you ready?

Sunset at Scootney Reservoir, WA

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Be careful to celebrate the Day of Atonement on the tenth day of that same month—nine days after the Festival of Trumpets. You must observe it as an official day for holy assembly, a day to deny yourselves and present special gifts to the LORD. Do no work during that entire day because it is the Day of Atonement, when offerings of purification are made for you, making you right with the LORD your God. ... This will be a Sabbath day of complete rest for you, and on that day you must deny yourselves. This day of rest will begin at sundown on the ninth day of the month and extend until sundown on the tenth day."            

                                                                                                                                      

Meditate. Consider how and when you make yourself right with the Lord.

 

During this time between Rosh Hashanah, the New Year, and the Day of Atonement, Jews are to reflect on their sins—individually, but most importantly corporately. They are hoping by repentance that their names will be written in God’s Book of Life for the next year.

Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Revelation 21:27

The original scripture about the Feasts or Festival that God initiated for the Hebrew people was written for people to focus on God and provided prophesy. Those directives may have been to the Jewish people, but even then, God included the strangers in their household, who were presumably Gentiles. I think that God wants Christians to observe these Feast Days, too. So, this time between Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement should be a time of reflection and repentance. The beauty of God’s plan is that He has provided this forgiveness, if we repent, and our Names are written in the Book and will not be blotted. For the Jew and Christian alike this is a time to prepare, to reflect, to repent and to eagerly seek the Lord. Yom Kippur begins on Sunday at sunset. Are you going to fast and take part in a time of prayer? Are you ready for the Day of Atonement?

 

Verse of Salvation ~ For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you." Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

 

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Fasting Tips:

In order for your system to be geared up for a fast it is good to do a couple days of intermittent fasting—the 16 or 18-hour fast followed by eating two meals, easing into a time of fasting. Of course, the actual day of fasting on the Day of Atonement needs to focus on God, not waiting to eat your next meal. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught His followers about fasting, stressing that it should be a private thing—so don’t call attention to yourself.

And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

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